Valve mechanism



Sept. 14, 1943 N. w. DORMAN a-r-m.

VALVE MECHANISM Filed Nov. 9, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet I Fig. 1'

INVENTOR.

ATTO EY.

I p 1943- N. w. DOlMAN EI'AL 2,329,254

VALVE MECHANISM Filed Nov. 9, 1940 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 32 ATT EY.

provedoperating' action of the 'solenoid upon the v l e. anism to-bei'operatedp v I I a more: positive and instant operation of thep con 1 troller valve, H 1 y: I v c j v A still ,,fur,ther object :of' the-invention is .the

' solenoid mech anism to jam, :stick,:v or be sluggish F v V Fig.1? isaview similar to:Fig.;6 showing: the po;

Patefited Sept- This'invention is directedto improvements-tin electrically operatedivalves ofi the, solenoid type, and the general object thereof is the provision of su h-a mechanism which will have an; im-

Our invention is directed 2&150'13'0 an improved solenoid construction which, i narticularly adapted tojthe; operation, of fluid pressure controller waives. v r 'c r I A further object of the invention is the provision of a pneumatically operated valve mechanism inassociation with a'solenoid operated con troller valve mechanism therefor which will have -provis ion ,-of -a controller "valve; mechanism? for controllingthe main'valve mechanism ofa pneumatically operated: clutch of a -power press. A still further object is the provision ofyasole-if Y .noid 'mechanismfor use in the operation of fluid.

pressure oo-ntroljmeans and which will be sucha's c to'overcome any; tendency of, the annaturelof'the in theinitiation of the; operationiof thefarrnal ture when the solenoid isde energized.

. Other objects'of theinventi'on will become apparent from the description of, the drawings-illus+= trating a-preferred embodiment thereofas here-'- inafter'set forth. f i 1 The essentialcharacteristics of' the invention are'summarizedin-the claims. a 1- -In the drawings: v t Fig. 'lvis'a side elevation'ofa valve l'mechanism 2 incorporating the'features,ofmyinvention;

Fi'g; 2 is a plan: view:of the valve'mechanism shownin,Fig.'-1;- a a: 4; .*:Fig.;,,3 is'anenlalged cross-i's'ectionalview of av solenoid operated valve con'tro-ller mechanism 540 taken substantially along-the line 3-3 of Fig'. 2;

' I Fig; 4 -is1a.cro-ss sectional'view.otthe valves of the controller takenqsubstantiallyl along thelin'es -'Z4-of Fig. 3; g i Fig. '5 i a bottom view' of'a shading'coil comprising partofthesolenoidstructure; c a Fig. 6is across-sectional view taken through the main valve mechanism and diagrammatically illustrating, fluid connections between the valves of the valve controller'imechanism;

sition: offlthe, gnain valve lmemberszwh'en fluid pressure'to 'the mechanism te -be operatedthas 'benshut off-or interrupted.

l Our "invention *cont'emplatest improvements in 2515 prises -no part is not'fshown; v V that sluggishness in the action of the various I n l I H a I rmsmmerses:-

sear wane-nae and Robert amazement w assignors to E. W. Bliss Cjoinpan'm'Brook- Q a IyIiJN. fY.; aeqrp mmn of Delaware n by November 9, 1946, Serial Nassau); 5

* n j us-H 2 '1. f 5' operated in one direction under electrical influence; and in the opposite direction by either gravity or mechanical influence, and in' the parg ti cular embodimentiillustrated in the "drawings the inventionisiillustrated as being applied to the :soleno-id of; a .valve controller mechanism whiclrcontrms the operation ofa main valve mechanism, the main valve mechanism serving to apply or interrupt pneumatic pressure to a clutch mechanism, suchifor example as isused on modern power presses. Electrical energy to the 501a noicl coil--may he -controlled both manually and automatically ,asydesired by. electrical switch or I controller mechanism conveniently stationed at theoperatqri position nea th bed of th press,

and which electricalcontroller mechanism com-j of this inventionfand accordingly The improved mechanism is such movablemembers of the mechanism due tomomentaryhesitationsinthe'action of the solenoid armature is eliminated; a I ;f j

the main valve .mechanismcom prises a valve body Ill provided withfan upper can] which controls the pneumatic action upon the clutch, a lower cap l2, aported sleeve l3 vand areciprocating-valve member-l4 of the piston op-" eratedtype; The valve capll is provided with an afiord coninternally threaded central bore I 5 to nection' to a main air supply line. The valve body l flis providedrvrith abranch I6 suitably in-. f v ternallythreaded for piping connection to. the air line-which is connected to the clutch mechanism or other; mechanism to which the pneumatic ac,- .t ion is tobe applied. A'second branchlla ispro-v vided on the valve body m which comprises an exhaust outlet rconnectiOn to an exhaust line, as-desired- The, bore of the branch 16 extends into and communicates with anannular pressure cavity, 19 formed within the valve body'andthe valve sleeve "I 3 ispprovided with-ports 2| which establish communication between the inlet port l5 and the air line'leadingto the clutch. The valve member I4 is provided with an upper and lower seatedvalve head 22, the upper valve face- 23 o'f which is adapted to close on a seat 24,

' formed within the valve sleeve !3 above thov ports :2 I, and the lower valveface 25 of which is adapted to close upon a seat 26 formed within the valve sleeve 13 ibelowfltheiports 2!; "Hence; when-the valve-head}; "isTin its lowermost position, as shown in @Fig; 6; air under pressure may flow ithrough'the portijlfi, port ll and branch I-B to thexclutch. "When the valve head 22 isiin the the action of the armature ofa solenoid which v uppermost position, as shown in Fig. 7, the air pressure is interrupted or shut off between thoe port I 5 and branch I6 and no air pressure is and downwardlythrough the valve sleeve to exhaust ports 30 in the sleeve l3 then to the annular cavity 3|, formed within the valve body ['0,

The cavity 3| is in communication withthe bore of the exhaust branch l8.

The valve I4 is provided, at itslower end, wit

a piston construction comprisinga flange 14%,

engagement with the upper and lower internal Walls of the valve body 45. The valve members 49 and 59 are urged into seating position relative to the valve seat members 52 and 53 respectively, by spring members 54 and 55 positioned upon shank formations n the valve members 49 and 59. A lower cap member 58 and an upper cap member 59 are in threaded engagement with suitable bores formed in the. valve body which serve as valve shank guides and seats for the spring members. The inner ends of the triangular shaped portions 5| of the valve members 49 land 50 are rounded and engage in notches o-r sockets formed inthe valve operating lever 60.

a flexible skirted disk" member 32, a washer 33;; r

and a clamping nut 34. The lower part of the valve sleeve I3 serves as a cylinder for the piston.

The lower valve cap I2 is provided with a contrally located cavity [2 to which air under pressureis admitted to cause u ward operation of the piston and valve member l4, and it will be noted that the diameter or the piston structure is greater than the diameter of the valve head 22, whereby a greater pressure area is afforded by the piston structure than by the valve head. The valve is operate'cl' to the downward position by effecting neutralization of the pressure within the cavity IF, thus permitting the pressure on the u per face of the valve head 22 to effect rapid downward movement of the valve member Control of the pressure within the cavity I2 is effected by a controller mechanism, shown in cross-section in Figsfi3 and 4. This controller iiiechanis'm i tor the purpose of passing the air under pressure from the inletport |'5 of the mem valve mechanism around the fna'iin valve member I!- to the cavity I2 during'one part of the cycle of operationof the main valve mechanism and"toopen the cavity |2 to the atmosphere during another part of the cycle of operation of the valve mechanism. Diagrammatically speaking, such an arrangement is shown in Figs. 6 and 'i, there being a full line pressure duct or constant pressure line 38 communicating with a passageway 39 formed in theupper valve cap member H which is connected'to a valve cavity t-i formed in a valve body 45 of the controller mechanism. Another connection 42 communi sates, with a passageway 43 formed in the lower vaiveea member I2 andextending to the cavity il'l rand' which communicate with a cavity 4 4, formed in the controller valve body 45; A third cavity 46 is formed in the auxiliary valve body '45 to which the exhaust line or opening 41 communic'ates.

In Figs. 6 and 7' the valves for controlling the lines 38 and 4 2; are illustrated diagrammatically as a single valve plunger 48, having a lower valve headl's and an upper valve head 5ilwhich'alter- 'ria'tely seat and unseat to establish air pressure in the cavity 2 and to exhaust air pressure from the cavity l2. r

Actually, the valve indicated by the reference numeral 48 comprises two separate valve member it andsiisee vFigs. Band t, which are positicn'ed in offset relation with the valve body 45, as shcwii in Fig. 4. These valve members 49 and-50 are operated to openpositions by a lever member 60', as will be described hereafter. The valvewmembers 49 and 50 are provided with triangular shanks 5| disposedrespectively to slide within the cylindrical bores of valve seat members 52 and 53; the latter being in threaded The valve operating lever 60 has one end thereof pivotally mounted upon a pin BI and the lever and pin are disposed within thevalve cavity 44.

The lever 60 is operated by the solenoid in such manner that the cooperating parts are all enclosed within the valve body 45. Hence the valve body is extended laterally from the valve housing portion thereof to have a hollow branch 64 which serves to completely enclose the lever 60 andalso serves as a support for a solenoid mechanism,

the armature 65 of which extends into the valve 7 body and is connected tothe free end of the lever '60: inthe manner illustrated in Fig. 3. As shown,the leverisprovided with a rounded end W which'is operatively disposed within a bored cavity formed in the lower end of the armature 65.

downwardly extending pipe connection or branch 65 is provided on" the valve body 45, affording 'acQnne'ction to the lower pipe line 42, which establishes: communication between the pressure cavity I2 of the main valve mechanism and the valve c'avity 44 of the valve body 45.

The'zsolenoid' mechanism may comprise a base or supporting member lfl'mounted'upon the'valve body 45 in air-tighter sealed' rel'ation thereto. seeuredito the base. 10 is a hollow core member or sleeve] 2', the internal surface of which is cylindricalz. The solenoid armature' may be hexagonal in cross sections whereby a substantially liberal fit is afforded between'the inner sleeve surface and the hexagonal edges of the solenoid armature 65.1 Theusual field coil 13 surrounds the sleeve '12 and the frame structure "is supported? 'bythe base In and" serves to maintain the solenoid assembly. The upper end of the sleeve 12 is closed by a cap or plug rnember 15 and this member 1571 ha formed in the under end thereof pairs of'slots li and T! at right angles to each other and in which a shorted shading coil" is impacted.

The operation ofv the solenoid mechanism as so far described, would-b'edependerit upon the infiuence of gravity to operatethe solenoid arma ture 65' downwardly and consequently to shift the valve member 49? to .theopen position shown However, it has been found that" this downwardmove'ment or falling action of the armature 65 is somewhat sluggish and that there is a tendency of the armature to remain in the uppermost position due to themfluence of residual magnetism; To insure a more certain or definite initiation of the downward movement of the armature 65' within a given short lap's'e'oftime', we provide a means for more definitely initiatingthe downward operation or the armature and this means may be pneumatic or mechanical in'its influence upon the armaturea For example, the solenoid structure may be made in such a manner that we can utilize theprevailingair pressure which serves themain valve mechanism .to overcome such sluggish action. Thus a connection or pressure line is provided which may extend either from the main air line pressure'source or from a main pressure cavity of the main valve mechanism to a position immediately above the upper end of the solenoid armature 85, whereby this airv pressure may be exerted upon theupperend area of the solenoid. Such a connection may comprise an air lineBfi connected to a passageway 8| formed in the top cap member I l of the main valve mechanism, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 and the other end thereof maybe connected as shown in Fig. 3 by a suitablenut 84 and coupling 85 to a central bore 85 formed in the, solenoid coil member '55.

Hence the downward action of the solenoid mechanism including a solenoid'armaarmature 65 is expedited and the operation of valve 49- made more definite with the result that the quick establishment of pressure within'the cavity l2 of the main valve. mechanism and prompt action of the piston and valve I4, to shut off pressure to the clutch, is assured. 1

It will be noted that in the means shown for initiating the down action of the plunger 65, the

armature in its upward stroke abuts against the slotted lower face of the plug member or T5 and the design of the parts is such that should any burrs form thereon due to wear or impact, of the members, no sticking or increased resistance to the downward initial motion of the solenoid armature will develop.

We claim: a

1. In a valve mechanism for controlling a Pneuu matically operated mechanism, in combination a pneumatically operated main valve, a controller valve for operating said main valve, a member in said controller valve adapted alternately to open ports for admission of compressed air to said main valve or for escape therefrom to an exhaust pipe, a solenoid having its. armature mechanically connected to operate said member and means for exerting pneumatic pressure upon the armature to influence the initiation of the operation thereof when the solenoid is deenerr gized, said last mentioned means being connected to the compressedair line of the valve mechanism.

2'. Thecombination of a main valve mechanism of the piston type pneumatically operated for controlling air pressure to an air operated clutch, a controller valve mechanismior controlling the pneumatic operation of the main valve mechav v v stroller mechanism including a pair of mechaninism, said controller mechanism including a pair of mechanically operatedvalve members for con trolling the pressure to the piston of the main valve mechanism, a pivoted member for operat-.

- ing said valve members and a solenoid having its armature mechanically connected to said pivoted member, said armature being in reciprocable relation to a core sleeve of the solenoid structure, and means in connection with the pressure ture having an end thereof connected to said valve operating means and the other end fitted in substantially airtight relation to 'an air port .formed in the solenoid structure whereby pneumatic pressure derived from the pressure line of the pressure operated valve may be exerted upon the said other armature end,

4. The combination of a main valve mechanism of the pistontype pneumatically operated for controlling air pressure" to a air operated clutch with a controller valve mechanism, said controller mechanism, including a pair of mechanically operated valve members for.controlling the pressure to the piston of themainvalve mechanism, a pivoted member for operating said valve members-and a solenoid having its armature mechanicallyv connected to said pivoted member, said solenoid armature being inreciprocable relation to a core sleeve of the solenoid structure, and means for exerting pneumatic pressure upon an end of the armature including an air line connecting a passage of the pressure operated main valve'to the space above the armature.

I 5; In a valve mechanism of the piston type for controlling air pressure to an air operated clutch,

in combination a pneumatically operated main f valve mechanism, a controller valve mechanism J one direction and having an air pressure connection With the system under control for influencing the armature and initiating the operation of nism having a pneumatically operated piston valve member for controlling air'pressure to an line of the pneumatically operated valve for exv erting pneumatic pressure'upon an end of the armature. I i 3.The combination of amain valve mechaa nism having a, pneumatically operated piston I valve member for controlling air pressure to an air operated clutch, a controller valve mechaair operated clutch, a controller valve mechanism for controlling a pressure line leading to the piston valve member and thereby control the operation of the main: valve mechanism'said concally operated valve members, said valve members being positioned in an onset relation and being held against their seat under spring con- I trol, a lever member adapted for engagement with said valve members and for alternately opening and closing one of said members, a solenoid having its armature mechanically connected for,rocking said lever member, and means connected to the air line of the pneumatically op- 'erated valve for exerting pneumatic pressure upon the armature to influence the initiation oftheoperation thereof when the solenoid is deenergized. I

. NEAL W. DORMAN.

ROBT. W. HADLEY. I 

